Furniture Assembly System

ABSTRACT

A modular furniture system operable in combination with a wall that has (a) an upper set of laterally extending slots and (b) a lower set of laterally extending slots. The system has a first rail that can be anchored to the wall, and having a first connector that engages at least one of the slots in a manner that assists in supporting a weight of the furniture.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application with the Ser. No. 60/886,788, which was filed Jan. 26, 2007 and is incorporated herewith in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is furniture.

BACKGROUND

People love to use their garage for purposes other than to store their vehicles. The most common usage of the garage is the storing of tools and equipment. With more elaborate storage units for the garage, the space is turning into more than just a work station. It is turning into a living space as well.

Traditionally, garage furniture are furniture that would either come pre-assembled or one would have to assembled on site. Either way they are stand alone units in which most of them may have to be attached to the walls of the garage. The furniture often have to be very durable in material compositions since the elements in the garage can be harsh and damaging. Garage can be subjected to flooding so the furniture ideally should be raised from the ground. Dirt and gravel can also be trapped under the furniture to cause issues.

There are existing slatwall on which various accessories be attached. Cabinets can be mounted on these slatwall. But once they are mounted, the cabinets are fixed and become immovable. There slatwall also takes up large surface area of the garage. Mounting the cabinets to the slatwall requires a great deal of assemblies and work, including nailing and drilling. Never mind that the slatwall will first have to be drilled into the wall of the garage first. This method of installing cabinets can be cumbersome and inflexible. Examples of these type of slatwalls and systems are Schulte FreedomRail Garage Storage from http://www.walltowallstorage.com/freedom_rail_storage.html#freedomRailinfo, and Handiwall Slatwall from http://www.jnkproducts.com/handiwall.htm#8.

Thus, there exists a need to have a flexible, movable, easy to use cabinet furniture system for garage use.

This and all other referenced patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides systems and methods for a piece furniture that has a back portion having (a) an upper set of laterally extending slots and (b) a lower set of laterally extending slots.

The sets of slots numbers preferably is a four slot and are aligned in a row also distanced from one another by at least 2 cm. However, it is contemplated to have a set of eight slots as well.

Preferably, the furniture has a top work surface of at least 0.5 square meters that can be made of wood, composite wood or other durable goods. The preferred closable storage volume can be of at least 0.05 cubic meters.

There is at least two doors that laterally open to the storage volume. In alternative embodiments, there can be an intermediate form where the furniture only have a frame and no doors. To support itself, the furniture has at least four weight supporting wheels.

In preferred embodiments, a modular furniture system operable in combination with a wall that has (a) an upper set of laterally extending slots and (b) a lower set of laterally extending slots, at least two of the slots having a width of at least 5 cm. Furthermore, the system has a first rail that can be anchored to the wall, and having a first connector that engages at least one of the slots in a manner that assists in supporting a weight of the furniture. The connector is a hook.

In also preferred embodiments, a first rail has a second connector vertically distanced from the first connector such that the first connector can engage one of the upper slots while the second connector engages one of the lower slots, each in a manner that assists in supporting the weight of the furniture. It is contemplated that a second rail that can be anchored to the wall, and that has first and second connectors that can engage additional ones of the upper and lower slots, respectively. The connectors of the second rail is shaped to simultaneously engage one of the slots of the furniture, and a slot of an adjacent piece of furniture of similar construction.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the rail has a third connector lateral to one of the first and second connectors, the third connector shaped to engage a slot of an adjacent piece of furniture of similar construction.

In a preferred embodiment, a method of installing first and second pieces of the furniture comprising anchoring first and second rails to a wall; engaging a first set of connectors extending from the first rail with a first set of slots of the first pieces of furniture; engaging a second set of connectors extending from the second rail with a second set of slots of the second pieces of furniture; and sliding the first piece of furniture horizontally relative to the second piece of furniture, such that the first set of slots move laterally with respect to the first set of connectors. The doors are added to the first piece of furniture after juxtaposing the first and second pieces of furniture.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a cabinet embodying the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of the cabinet mounted on a wall.

FIG. 3 is a close-up drawing of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a close-up of the bracket of the cabinet.

FIG. 5 is another view of the bracket of the cabinet.

FIG. 6 is a side back view of the bracket of the cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a movable cabinet system 100 which comprises: a cabinet 10 with doors 50 and a top surface 50, brackets 30, and rails 20.

Cabinet 10 comprises a frame 70 with doors 40, shelf 60, top surface 50, back panel 80 and brackets 30. Preferably, frame 70 is a metal frame made from materials such as stainless steel or other durable materials.

Doors 40 on the cabinet are preferred to be two panes and opened outwardly. It is contemplated that different configuration of the doors are possible, such as having one door, or a door that opens not laterally from the top or the bottom. While doors are preferred, they are not essential and it is possible to have an opened style cabinet with no doors.

Shelf 60 preferably is a solid light weight shelf. However, it is contemplated that the shelf can be a solid weight or in mesh plastic or metal materials. Preferably there is at least one shelf mounted in the cabinet. Depending on the size and the arrangement of the cabinet, there can be multiple shelves arranged in different configuration to suit the needs of the user.

Back panel 80 of cabinet 10 is the supporting structure of the entire furniture. Slots 85 are located along the side of back panel 80 for insertion of bracket 30. Back panel 80 preferably is made of metal materials that can support the furniture's weight.

Brackets 30 are located on the back panel of the cabinet which can be mounted onto the rails. Brackets are preferably made of any metal materials and are conventional brackets that allows can be inserted into the rail with little or no effort. For example, a clip or slip can be used as the bracket to connect the cabinet to the rail. Brackets can be pre-installed on the back surface of the cabinet or they can be installed there on site. The sizes of the cabinet also determines the sizes and the location of the bracket. However, it is possible to have a system where the brackets can be mounted directly onto the back surface without the use of rails. Preferably, the rails provide extra reinforcement and support for the cabinet frame. In FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, a close up view of rails 20 with bracket 30 is shown.

Rails 20 preferably are located on the back surface of the cabinet. Multiple vertical or horizontal rails are located onto the back surface, and preferably two vertical rails and two horizontal rails will suffice for a cabinet. Rails 20 have slots 25 that can be either be mounted to the cabinet or to a wall. For other pieces of furniture, the rails maybe a combination of horizontal and vertical rails. Presumably, not only cabinets have rails. Different pieces of furniture with a sufficient frame that allows for brackets and rails to be installed onto the back surface also is an ideal candidate for this system. A sofa or a table, for example, can have a horizontal rail across the back surface to allow for bracket mounting to the wall. Rails 20 preferably is made from durable material, such as steel.

In FIG. 2, a cabinet assembly 100 comprises cabinet 10 that is mounted onto rails 20 to wall 110.

Wall 110 is a conventional wall found within a residential or commercial property. It can be a drywall in 4 ft (1219 mm) wide sheets of various lengths. Newly formed sheets are cut from a belt, the result of a continuous manufacturing process. In some commercial applications, sheets up to 16 ft are used. Larger sheets make for faster installation, since they reduce the number of joints that must be finished. Often, a sizable quantity of any custom length may be ordered, from factories, to exactly fit ceiling-to-floor on a large project. Drywall are secured with wall-studs which are seams between the wall that are supporting structures. Rails 20 can be safely anchored onto the studs of the drywall to hold up the furniture.

Wall 110 can also be a structure wall in which the wall is a secured wall of the property and can support an inordinate amount of weight. In which case, the positions of rails 20 can be more flexible on the structured wall. Thus, it is contemplated that the wall can be any walls to support a piece of furniture.

The advantage of the present invention allows the furniture to be easily mounted on a wall for a secured connection. Furthermore, different furniture pieces can be easily interchanged according to the needs. It is contemplated that this can be applicable to residential or commercial housing, like a warehouse or even shipping containers that require furniture pieces.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps could be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc. 

1. A piece of furniture, comprising: a back portion having (a) an upper set of laterally extending slots and (b) a lower set of laterally extending slots.
 2. The furniture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sets of slots numbers at least four slots.
 3. The furniture of claim 2, wherein the at least four slots are aligned in a row.
 4. The furniture of claim 2, wherein the at least four slots are distanced from one another by at least 2 cm.
 5. The furniture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sets of slots numbers at least eight slots.
 6. The furniture of claim 1, further comprising a top having a work surface of at least 0.5 square meters.
 7. The furniture of claim 7, wherein the work surface comprises wood.
 8. The furniture of claim 7, wherein the work surface comprises a composite wood product.
 9. The furniture of claim 1, further defining a closable storage volume of at least 0.05 cubic meters.
 10. The furniture of claim 1, further comprising at least two doors that laterally open to the storage volume.
 11. The furniture of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate form have a frame and no doors.
 12. The furniture of claim 1, further comprising at least four weight supporting wheels.
 13. A modular furniture system operable in combination with a wall, comprising: the furniture according to claim 1; and a first rail that can be anchored to the wall, and having a first connector that engages at least one of the slots in a manner that assists in supporting a weight of the furniture.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the connector comprises a hook.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first rail has a second connector vertically distanced from the first connector such that the first connector can engage one of the upper slots while the second connector engages one of the lower slots, each in a manner that assists in supporting the weight of the furniture.
 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a second rail that can be anchored to the wall, and that has first and second connectors that can engage additional ones of the upper and lower slots, respectively.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the connectors of the second rail is shaped to simultaneously engage one of the slots of the furniture, and a slot of an adjacent piece of furniture also according to claim
 1. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second rail has a third connector lateral to one of the first and second connectors, the third connector shaped to engage a slot of an adjacent piece of furniture also according to claim
 1. 19. A method of installing first and second pieces of the furniture according to claim 1, comprising: anchoring first and second rails to a wall; engaging a first set of connectors extending from the first rail with a first set of slots of the first pieces of furniture; engaging a second set of connectors extending from the second rail with a second set of slots of the second pieces of furniture; and sliding the first piece of furniture horizontally relative to the second piece of furniture, such that the first set of slots move laterally with respect to the first set of connectors.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising adding doors to the first piece of furniture after juxtaposing the first and second pieces of furniture. 